December 12, 2012

Wholesale markets have always fascinated
me. The huge stocking, the clutter around, the availability of the
unimaginable, the rock bottom prices – it’s an ecosystem that has an uncommon
beauty to it. And no matter which part of India you are in, it doesn’t change
much.

As if I had not seen enough flowers, I was
itching to visit the Bangalore flower market, which would be my first wholesale
market visit in this city. We chose Ugadi, the Karnataka New Year, as the day.
This would either mean that we were in for a treat OR that we would be swarmed
by the crowd. Add to it the warnings we got from friends - don’t argue if don’t
know the local language, don’t wear any jewellery, beware of pick pocketers and
the likes. Nonetheless, we decided to go.

We reached around 8 am and the market was
already bustling with activity. As soon as we entered, we could smell fresh
veggies. There were veggies everywhere – incredibly fresh and
oh-so-interestingly arranged.

Visiting local bazaars opens up a whole new
world for you. Not to forget, it’s a great study in buying patterns too.
Interestingly, India is known for micro-sales. So when I saw the mini packets
of garam masala, I wasn’t surprised. Fit for daily use, these packets are
especially for buyers who don’t like to stock too much. Just enough is just right.

A little ahead we got to the heart of the
flower market. I felt like a kid in a candy store. Multi coloured vermillion, spices and
clothes– I loved every bit of it.

And then came the main attraction – the
flowers. Garlands, loose flowers, gajras – they were in numbers I had never
seen before. The sellers were attracting buyers with the best prices, rolling
out streams and streams of fragrant garlands and briskly weaving some new
without batting an eyelid.

But that wasn't all. Every corner was full
of surprises.

Like the man who said the cow ‘talked’ to
him.

Or the one, who oblivious to the chaos, was
reading the morning news.

We saw gems of indigenous organizational
skills

And a world of exotic colour and fragrances

I was, once again, amazed to see how these
bazaars effortless bind together modernity and yesteryears’ charm. There’s a
constant push to keep up with the times on one hand, and a seemingly untouched
and unchanged way of living on the other.